Best Outdoor Garbage Cans

Updated on November 23, 2016

Finding the Best Garbage Can

Whether you like it or not, your garbage can is an important part of your life. When you have a good garbage can that works well, you barely notice it. It holds all of your garbage without spilling or leaking. You can easily move it to your curb for pick-up. The lid does not blow away and get lost. You can spend minimal time and energy dealing with your garbage. Life is good.

If you have a garbage can that does not work out, it can make your life miserable. If your garbage can wears a hole in the bottom, it can leak in your garage and smell terrible. If the garbage can is too small, you'll need to pile bags of garbage around your garbage can, and maybe even pay extra to tag each bag that will not fit in your garbage can. If your garbage can lid does not fit securely, you can end up with dogs tearing into your garbage and making a huge mess.

Here are the most important features in outdoor garbage cans and how to select the best outdoor garbage can.

Metal Garbage Can vs. Plastic Garbage Can

The material that a garbage can is made from is probably its most obvious feature. The primary material choices are metal and plastic.

Metal garbage cans are stronger and more durable than plastic garbage cans. However they are also heavier and have fewer shape options. Metal garbage cans are typically cylindrical in shape with a lid that presses in place.

Metal Garbage Can | Source

I used a metal garbage can like this in my barn to store chicken feed for many years. Why use a metal garbage can instead of plastic? Mice can chew through plastic, but not metal. Metal garbage cans are galvanized to resist rust for years.

Plastic garbage cans are not as durable as metal garbage cans. I had plastic garbage cans without wheels that I would drag down my driveway on garbage day. After a few years, they wore holes in the bottom as the plastic wore away. Plastic garbage cans without wheels will wear holes in the bottom if you drag them across rough surfaces like concrete or gravel.

This plastic garbage can will wear holes in the bottom quickly if you drag it across a rough surface | Source

Some cylindrical plastic garbage cans have a plastic ridge along the outside edge. This is a key feature to look for in a cylindrical plastic garbage can. The ridges should provide a much better wear surface and will last much longer.

Plastic garbage can with ridges on bottom to resist wearing holes though the bottom | Source

Garbage Cans with Wheels

Some garbage cans have wheels on the bottom. This makes the garbage can much easier to move when full. If you have a 35 gallon garbage can, it can weigh well over 100 pounds when full of garbage.

A disadvantage of wheels is that they are a moving part that can break. If a wheel breaks on a garbage can with wheels, the garbage can is no longer very useful and would need to be replaced. Also garbage cans with wheels are a bit more expensive.

Garbage Can with Wheels | Source

After my last move, I upgraded from a plastic cylinder garbage can with no wheels to one with wheels. I appreciate having the wheels when I have a full load. You tip the garbage can toward the wheels to roll it easily. When you have the garbage can in place, you allow it to rest flat and it will no longer roll.

Another nice thing about garbage cans with wheels is their shape. These garbage cans typically have a flat side- this allows it to be stored right against a wall. Round garbage cans cannot be stored against a wall as efficiently.

If you do prefer the round shape, you can get round garbage cans with wheels as well.

Garbage Can Size- How big of a garbage can do you need?

I find that my 32 gallon Hefty garbage can wheels is a bit too small to hold the entire week's garbage from my family of 4 at times. I recycle a lot, but sometimes I end up with an extra bag or 2 that won't fit. I decided to try a larger trash can and got a 50 gallon garbage can.

It turned out that my city has a maximum of 35 gallon garbage containers. I think this limit is to protect the garbage collector from injury trying to lift and dump containers that are too heavy. Luckily, I was able to return the 50 gallon garbage can, but it sure was nice for the one week I got to use it!

The lesson here is to check the local rules before you buy a garbage can...

Garbage Can Lid Options

The lid of a garbage can is important- a tight seal helps reduce odors in the garage. A good lid holds the garbage in your can on a windy day and does not come off in the wind. A tight lid can also make it harder for the neighborhood dogs and cats to get into your garbage and make a mess.

Some garbage cans have snap-on lids. If these lids are made out of low quality plastic, they can become warped over time in the sun and not fit as well.

Some garbage cans with wheels have lids that are attached to the garbage can with a hinge. This is a nice feature. The larger ones remind me of a car hood.

Garbage Can with Hinged Lid | Source

Garbage Can Colors

With plastic garbage cans, you have some color choices. The most popular colors seem to be black, green, and light blue. I have also seen some red plastic garbage cans. I think a neutral color makes sense for a garbage can- you don't really want to draw attention to it.